Hydrant.



Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oHrnsTIAN EsLoETzER, or ToWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

H'YDRANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. '720,716,6.ated February 17, 1903.

- Application iiledrl'annary 9, 1902. Serial No. 89.087. `(No modelli,

T ctZZ whom t rita/y concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN'E. LOETZER,

Towanda, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, ,have invented certain new,

and useful Improvements in Hydran ts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

-This invention relates to hydrants and plugs, more especially to that type in which the outlet from the distributing-main is controlled by a vertically-movable'valve operated by an axial stem or valve-rod.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide a hydrant, adaptable for use as a fireplug, which will be simple and. economical in construction and highly efficient and durable in service. Y

Further objects are to secure perfect alinement of the valve and stem with relation to the valve -seat, so that the valve may be forced or drawn true to its seat and held closely thereagainst, thus obviating the common defect of leakage from the main into the stand-pipe when the valve is closed; to prevent disturbance ofsuch relation or displacement of the parts; lto provide improved drip devices for permitting escapeof -Wateffrom the stand-pipe when communication is shut o from the .distributing-main thus obviating all liability offreezingy-to render the hy-Y drant easily accessible forrepairs or inspection and to permit withdrawal of the valve and stem Without disturbance of other parts; to reduce the number of parts and render the structure rigid and compact, and to improve generally upon devices of the same character.

With the above-stated objects in view theY invention will be hereinafter first fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part Vof this specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims following this description.

In saiddrawings, in which corresponding parts in the several views are designated by similar letters of reference, Figure lis a perspective View of a hydrant embodying my invention, the same being represented in place in a street as a fire-plug and only the upper i or external portion thereof appearing. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-section of the hydrant as a whole; Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of the valve-seat ring, showing also the drip-controlling valve; and Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary' v ertical section taken on line IV IV ofV Fig, also partially showing therein the hydrant-valve in elevation.

Referring to theV drawings, the hydrantcasin gis preferably constructed in three parts or sections, comprising a lbase A, having the usual branch or elbow for connection with a Water-main, an intermediate section or standpipe B, and a dome or cover C, closing said stand-pipe, the said sections being secured together' by fastening-bolts entered through flanges or projections at their adjacent ends or by other suitable means. The stand-pipe or intermediate section is provided near its upper end with asuitable discharge-nozzle D, which may be closed by a removable cap or cover d when the hydrant is not in use.

The hydrant is internally divided by a valve-seat ring E, having the usual Water passage or opening e therein, controlled by the hydrant-valve G, which is secured upon and operated by an axial stem or valve-rod H. The said hydrant-valve maybe of any suitable construction, though preferably conical in form, the valve herein shown consistity or junction of one or both of said sections, though preferably aty the extremity of the lower section, whereby said ring isproperly centered within` the casing a-ndfsecured rigidly in position. The said ring may also.

be provided with an upper annular flange or projection e', fitting closely within the casing, thus affording additional means for centering the valve-seat, strengthening the junction or connection between the two members of the hydrant, and serving to maintain the drip-valve in place when the valve-seat ring is removed, as will hereinafter' appear.

A tubular member or sleeve F, constituting a guide for the valve-stem, is preferably formed integrally with the valve-seat ring, being herein represented formed at the junction of a number of converging arms or hangers g, depending from said ring, the structure thus having the form of a cage or spider. Said sleeve or guide is in axial alinement with the valve-seat and preferably interiorly screw-threaded to receive the lower threaded portion 7L of the valve-stem, the upper portion of which passes through an opening in the dome or cover C, a suitable packing device being fitted around the same to maintain a water-tight bearing. By this construction the stein is firmly guided in close proximity to the valve-seat and said stein and valve maintained in perfect alinement with relatien to the valve-seat, so that in shutting off the water the valve may be drawn true to its seat without improper movement or deflection and forced tightly against the same to secure a water tight joint, while by reason of the rigidity of the structure disturbance of such relation ordisplacement Of the partsis rendered practically impossible. The said sleeve or guide is preferably located below the valve-seat, as shown, and the valve arranged to operate above its seat, whereby the stem may be unscrewed from its guide and the valve withdrawn without removal of the other parts.

The valve-seat ring is provided with a dripport c2, leading to a drip-passage, as the annular groove e3, formed in the outer edge or periphery of the ring,and comm unicating with a suitable discharge-port. Said drip-port is controlled by a valve I iu the form of a rocking lever lying horizontally and f'latwise upon the valve-seat ring, said lever being springactuated to close the drip-port when the hydrant-valve is raised from its seat, but operated by said valve to uncover said port when the hydrant-valve is forced to its seat, and thus permit escape of Water remaining in the stand-pipe when the valve is closed. As herein represented, a compression-spring t' is intei-posed between the tail portion of said lever and the flange c', said spring being fitted within a suitable recess therefor in an enlarged portion of said lever, while the inner side of said enlarged portion is cam-faced or inclined, as shown at t', for engagement by the curved outwardly-projecting periphery of the flange or collar gof the main hydrantvalve when the latter is lowered to its seat,

so as to move the drip-valve or lever I to position to open the drip-port.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a hydrant, the combination with the casing of the valve-seat ring secured therein having an integral stem-guide, the main hydrant-valve having an axial stem working in said guide, a drip-port in said valve-seat ring, and a valve therefor consisting of a horizontal lever pivoted to said ring, said lever being spring-actuated to close the port when the hydrant is open and operated to open the same by engagement with the hydrant-valve when the latter is forced to its seat; substantially as described.

2. In a hydrant, the combination with the casing, of the valve-seat ring secured therein having a stem-guide beneath the valve-seat, the main hydrant-valve working above said valve-seat and having an axial operatingstem working in said guide, a drip-port in said valve-seat ring, and a valve therefor consisting of a horizontally-rocking lever pivoted to the ring, said lever being spring-actuated to cover said port when the hydrant is open, and a projection above the main hydrantvalve for engaging and moving said lever to open said port when said valve is lowered to its seat; substantially as described.

3. In a hydrant, the combination with the valve-seat, main valve and valve-stem, of the drip-port, and valve therefor consisting of a horizontally-rocking lever pivoted beside the valve-seat, a spring forcing said lever to cover the port when the hydrant is open, and a projection on said valve-stem engaging and moving said lever to uncover said port when the hydrant is closed 3 substantially as described.

4. In a hydrant, the combination with the casing, of the valve-seat ring secured therein, an interiorlythreaded stemguide beneath said ring in axial alinement with the valve-seat, the main hydrant-valve, an axial threaded stein therefor working in said guide, a projecting curved flange or 'collar above said valve, a drip-port in said valve-seat ring, and a valve therefor consisting of a 1ever spring-actuated to cover the same when the hydrant is open, said curved flange or collar being adapted to engage and move said lever to uncover said port when the main valve is screwed against its seat; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN E. LOETZER.

XVitnesses:

W. H. DODGE, J. II. PENNEPACKER.

lOO 

